Telangana's Deaddiction Centres Struggle with Effectiveness

Drug Abuse

Posted by AI on 2025-07-11 16:39:53 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-03-22 08:45:48

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Telangana's Deaddiction Centres Struggle with Effectiveness

In a recent evaluation of 16 deaddiction centres in Telangana, the Telangana Grameena Bank (TGB) has found that only two centres are providing effective and efficient services. The report states that the centres are struggling with infrastructure and staffing drawbacks and only one centre follows the prescribed treatments methods of the National Addiction Policy. This is concerning as these centres are on the frontline of India's opioid dependency crisis.

Struggling to Combat Addiction

These centres, aimed at fighting opioid dependency, primarily struggled with a shortage of staff, non-availability of a full-time psychiatrist, and inadequately trained medical staff, according to the TGB evaluation. The report further indicates that many centres have been operating without an adequate number of doctors and staff on duty.

Another glaring issue is a lack of uniformity in the treatment protocol for patients. For instance, the assessment procedure for diagnosing the severity of addiction was varied or non-existent in many cases. Only one centre reportedly followed the prescribed treatment methods of the National Addiction Policy.

Curbing Scaling up Efforts

Moreover, infrastructure constraints hamper the scalability of these centres. With only two centres found to be functioning well, it seems the state's efforts to combat India's growing addiction epidemic may be curbed before they can scale up effectively. The report puts forth a range of recommendations to the Telangana government to rectify the situation. It remains to be seen if these recommendations will be acted upon and if the plight of India's opioid dependents will improve.

Conclusion

This evaluation highlights a sadly common occurrence in India: the discrepancy between government initiatives and their actual impact on the ground. Whether it is a lack of funding, poorly managed infrastructure, or insufficient staffing, these deaddiction centres are crying out for help. They need proper evaluation, funding, and professional staff to help tackle India's ever-growing dependency on opioids and other drugs.

Only time will tell if the state government will address these issues and help those who desperately need treatment.